White Supremacist Teen Arrested in Plot to Attack Hindu Temple; Concerns Rise Over Anti-Indian Sentiment in US

Chicago Police [File: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images/Reuters] A 19-year-old American with expressed white supremacist views has been apprehended on the day U.S. police believe he intended to attack a Hindu place of worship. Authorities in Illinois report thwarting a potential mass shooting with the arrest of Alexandros Paporakis, a Taco Bell cashier from Palatine, a Chicago suburb. Prosecutors allege Paporakis told colleagues he was eager to kill Indian people. This incident occurs amidst growing apprehension among Indian Americans regarding hostility directed at their community, exacerbated by contentious political debates surrounding immigration and skilled-worker visas. The article delves into the details of the alleged plot and examines whether anti-Indian racism is indeed escalating in the United States.

What Happened? Investigators suspect Paporakis planned to target the largest Hindu temple in Aurora, located approximately 40 miles (65km) southwest of Palatine. Police stated, "However, the specific intended location has not been confirmed and remains under investigation." Prosecutors claim Paporakis informed colleagues that Sunday would be "a special day." According to reports from ABC7 Chicago and Fox 32 Chicago, a work colleague told investigators that Paporakis called on Sunday afternoon, reporting his gun had jammed and that he had left quickly without being detected. He allegedly sent a video of the rifle malfunctioning and expressed a desire to try again once repaired. Two co-workers alerted the police, leading to Paporakis's arrest by officers from Palatine and Mount Prospect as he departed his residence. Palatine Police Chief William Nord emphasized the "seriousness of this alleged threat." Paporakis faces felony charges for "making a terrorist threat" and "unlawful possession of a weapon," and a judge ordered him held without bail pending trial.

Suspect Profile: Prosecutors state Paporakis openly identified as a white supremacist to his colleagues. A court document obtained by The Associated Press reveals he allegedly sent a co-worker an eight-page document titled, "Why I fought: A.K.A. (Aurora Shooter’s Manifesto)." This document reportedly described Indian, Jewish, and Black people as "subhumans" and outlined a plan for mass murder. Prosecutors also shared that Paporakis described himself as "a sociopathic white supremacist Neo Nazi filled with hatred, fantasising about mass murder nearly every day." He allegedly claimed to have been planning the attack for two years, researching his target via YouTube and Google Street View. ABC7 reported that prosecutors also mentioned Paporakis had mental health issues and resided with his mother. A search of his home uncovered an AR-style rifle lacking a serial number, loaded magazines, a gas canister marked with a slur targeting South Asians, and items displaying Nazi symbolism.

Is Anti-Indian Hate Rising in the US? The FBI does not categorize crimes specifically against Indian Americans. The closest available data pertains to crimes against Hindus and Sikhs, many of whom in the U.S. have origins in India. Anti-Sikh offenses appear to be increasing, with police reporting a 28 percent rise to 234 incidents in the 12 months leading up to October, compared to 183 in the prior year. Anti-Hindu offenses have remained lower and relatively stable, with 63 incidents reported over the past two years. However, Hindu temples have been targeted, including an incident in late June 2025 where an estimated 20 to 30 rounds were fired at a Krishna temple in Spanish Fork, Utah, while worshippers were present. Illinois Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi condemned a break-in and vandalism at a Hindu temple in Santa Clara, California, noting that incidents targeting Hindu temples nationwide "are on the rise." Online, hateful posts concerning South Asians on X have reportedly more than tripled between January 2024 and June 2026, according to a study by the Centre for the Study of Organised Hate (CSOH). Indian Americans report experiencing this hostility firsthand. A Carnegie Endowment for International Peace survey of 1,000 Indian Americans indicated that one in four had faced verbal abuse with slurs since the start of 2025, with 9 percent reporting physical threats and 4 percent physical assault. Almost one in five reported avoiding Indian attire in public. However, the survey also found no significant change in personal discrimination reports since 2020. Devesh Kapur, a professor at Johns Hopkins University and co-author of the survey, stated that the threat is growing, with "white supremacist extremism is clearly rising" and "hostility towards Indians has particularly increased among the MAGA right in President Trump’s second term."

Contributing Factors: Researchers suggest that hostility is largely fueled by immigration debates. President Donald Trump's campaign rhetoric and subsequent immigration restrictions, including federal raids, have been cited. Indians are recipients of over 70 percent of H-1B visas, and spikes in online hate have coincided with political disputes over this program. In July 2025, Trump criticized U.S. tech companies for outsourcing jobs to India, and amid a trade dispute, made remarks about India and Russia. In September 2025, he imposed a $100,000 fee for certain new H-1B petitions, a move two-thirds of Indian Americans opposed. Figures associated with Trump have also exhibited anti-Indian sentiments; far-right activist Laura Loomer made a derogatory remark about the White House smelling like curry if Kamala Harris were president. Kapur noted that Vice President JD Vance has used "dog whistle" language regarding H-1B visa holders. Government communications have also been implicated, such as a since-deleted Department of Homeland Security post targeting a Sikh man. Researchers also point to the increasing prominence of South Asians in U.S. politics and the influence of the "Great Replacement" conspiracy theory.

Paporakis is scheduled for his next court appearance on October 30.